Championship Sheepdog Trials

Championship Sheepdog Trials

October 4 & 5, 2024 - 9:00am-5:00pm
October 6, 2024 - 9:00am - 2:00pm
2400 Buttercup Road
Hailey, Idaho 83333
$7.00 Entrance Fee - Children under 5 are free!
(Please bring cash to pay for your entry! Thank you!)
Spectators are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs as there is no seating provided. Because we are in a natural space, there is a small walk to the field from both the handicapped and general admission parking - please be prepared. Leashed dogs are permitted at the Trials. Coolers are not permitted.

Directions: From the north or the south on Highway 75/Main Street in Hailey, head East on McKercher Boulevard via the stoplight on Main Street. Travel approximately .5 mile from Main Street to Buttercup Road. Turn left (north) on Buttercup Road at the stop sign intersection of McKercher Boulevard and Buttercup Road. Travel approximately 1.5 miles on Buttercup Road and you will see the Trials event set-up on the east side of the road. Follow signage, team and volunteers who will direct you to the parking area.

Thank you to the generous sponsor of Saturday's 2024 Sheepdog Trials:

First Lite Logo 2023 - Laura Drake

PRE-PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS TO THE TRIALS! (YOU MAY ALSO STILL PAY ENTRY AT THE FIELD.)

*NOTE: Sheepdog Trials' tickets are non-refundable; however, they are transferable. Thank you!

ONLINE TICKET SALES END ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 AT 5:00PM. AFTER THIS DATE, YOU MAY PURCHASE TICKETS AT THE DOOR WITH CASH OR CREDIT CARD. CASH PREFERRED.

FESTIVAL SHEEPDOG TRIALS

The National Point Qualifying Sheepdog Trials during the Trailing of the Sheep Festival is a must-see for all animal enthusiasts who have wondered who is really in charge of the sheep and how the dogs are trained to respond to their handlers. These amazingly talented animals will bring words of astonishment from viewers along with great photo opportunities.

The United States Border Collie Handlers Association is the governing body of the trialing world and sanctions the Trailing of the Sheep Festival Trials. The 2024 Trials will feature 80 of the most talented border collies paired with their top handlers. Look for teams traveling from Utah, Idaho, Montana, California, Oregon, Washington and Canada.

While you are out at the Trials, enjoy wonderful food from the Gooding Basque Association, beverages, shop for great Festival merchandise and peruse the wares of over 30 vendors. Join us out at the Trials October 4-6, 2024!

ELEMENTS FOR SCORING OPEN TRIALS

In an Open Trial, the dog is scored on eight elements:

Outrun, Lift and Fetch (3) - 50 points
Drives (Drive Away and Cross Drive) (2) - 30 points
At Hand Work (Shed Pen Single) (3) - 30 points

The Outrun, Lift and Fetch are weighted more heavily because this is the "natural" skill set of the dog and they should be able to do these things with little, if any, direction from the handler. Although these skills need to be shaped, the propensity to do them comes built into the dog. Everything else is trained. The trial setup represents the work that a traditional sheep farmer would need to do on a daily basis – going to get sheep and bringing them (Outrun, Lift, Fetch), taking sheep from here to there (Drive), separate sheep from the flock (Shed), separate a single sheep that might be hurt or sick (Single) and put sheep in an enclosed area (Pen.)

Typical Field Trials require that the dog complete an Outrun, Lift and Fetch to get the sheep from the Set Out to the Handler. The "Lift" is when the dog introduces itself to the sheep. In a perfect situation, the dogs Outrun would land the dog 12-20 yards behind the sheep and the Outrun would be big enough to not upset them. A perfect Outrun is shaped like a light bulb with the dog leaving the handler’s feet running efficiently up the field and, when it spots sheep, kicking out into a big arch around the sheep. When the dog reaches balance, directly behind the sheep and on a straight line to the handler, the dog should stop, gather the sheep into a tight grouping using their "eye," and tell the sheep it is time to walk down the field to the handler. Sheep should be brought directly to the handler at a workman-like pace.

In a "Double Lift" situation, there are two groups of sheep 150-300 yards apart and a central point down the field before the fetch panels. The dog begins its initial Outrun to whichever group of sheep are designated by the judge as the first set. The dog lifts those sheep and fetches them to the central point - also designated by the judge. At this point, the dog settles the first group at the drop-off point and is directed by the handler via whistle to "look back" and go get the second group of sheep. The dog does a new outrun and "lifts" the second group in order to fetch them to the drop-off point. Once those sheep join the waiting sheep, the double lift is complete and the rest of the course can commence.

Not all courses have all eight elements. Time and type of sheep add to the difficulty. The range ewes that we use at the Trailing of the Sheep Festival are particularly challenging because they do not care what the dog wants. They are used to taking care of themselves on the mountain so doing what the dog wants is not important to them. Idaho has some of the last "big bands" of sheep that are fed on range and rarely, if ever, handled. Thus, an opportunity for a handler to try a dog on this type of sheep doesn't present itself very often and our Trials are popular to handlers who are up for the challenge.

Submitted by Trailing of the Sheep Festival’s Technical Trials Coordinator Kelly Ware.

Supporters

2023 Trials Results

Overall Winner
Brianna Henderson & Willow

Gray Muzzle:
Hans Gode & Kate

First time at TOTS:
Kelsey Nichols & Ben

Double Lift Champion:
Brianna Henderson & Willow

Double Lift Reserve Champion:
Laura Vishoot & Pearl

Honorable Mention Double Lift:
Erin Swanson & AZ Kate

Best Lift Day 1:
Angela McCann Hoover & Roy

Best Lift Day 2:
Ron Stark & Moss

Best Lift Day 3:
TBD

 

Day 1
1st - Libby Neider & Kitt
2nd - Laura Vishoot & Pearl
3rd - Hans Gode & Kate

Day 2
1st - Kelsey Nichols & Ben
2nd - Jody Raubenheimer & Dave
3rd - Sharon Frelich & Dru

Day 3
1st - Brianna Henderson & Nike
2nd - Nancy Creel & Rey
3rd - Brianna Henderson & Willow

Trials News & Information

SPOTLIGHT ON A FESTIVAL SHEEPDOG HANDLER Tammy Yost-Wildin

Tammy Yost-Wildin represents the fifth-generation of an agricultural family who settled in Billings in the late 1800s. She grew up…

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How it Works: Elements For Scoring Open Trials

In an Open Trial, the dog is scored on eight elements:  Outrun, Lift and Fetch (3) – 50 points  Drives…

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Backgrounder – Sheepdog Trials

The National Point Qualifying Sheepdog Trials during the Trailing of the Sheep Festival is a must see for all animal…

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Guard Dogs – The Sheep’s Best Friend

We all get excited when we see the sheep trailing through our valley. A band, typically  1,500 ewes and grown…

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